Premier Distillery & Craft Brewery Bus Tour with 9+ Tastings

Nashville’s distillery scene is spread across the city, and this tour gives you a practical way to sample it without arranging taxis between every pour. You may taste bourbon, moonshine, vodka, and craft beer in one afternoon, with private transportation linking the stops.

I like the small-group format, with no more than 13 people, and I like that the guides often add local color beyond the drinks. Jack, Jimmy, Joe, Shawn, and Swade have all been praised for being friendly, informative, and helpful with Nashville tips. The main drawback is that the route can change, and the advertised distillery stops are not guaranteed.

Key points to know

• Nine to 12 tastings: Expect a broad mix of whiskey, bourbon, moonshine, vodka, cocktails, and beer.
• At least three venues: The exact stops can change, so book this for variety rather than one fixed distillery.
• Private transportation included: You do not need to organize taxis between Nashville’s scattered drink venues.
• Small groups: The vehicle holds up to 13 people, though at least five are needed for the tour to run.
• Guides shape the experience: Jack, Jimmy, Joe, Shawn, and Swade have been singled out for local knowledge and good company.
• Bring valid photo ID: Every person must be at least 21 and carry a valid photo ID or be turned away from the tastings.

A tasting tour built around variety

This is less a single distillery visit and more a short tasting circuit around Nashville. Over roughly three hours, you visit at least three places and sample nine to 12 alcoholic drinks. The route may include a distillery, a moonshine stop, and a brewery, with the balance changing from one departure to the next.

That flexibility is both the tour’s appeal and its main limitation. If you want to compare several types of Tennessee whiskey and local beer without doing much planning, it works well. If you have your heart set on Nelson’s Green Brier Distillery or another named venue, you should not treat the published route as guaranteed.

Your guide is an important part of the day. Jack has been praised for explaining each stop and sharing local tips, while Jimmy has earned strong marks for his city knowledge and friendly manner. Joe has made the tour feel relaxed and has sometimes added an extra stop when the schedule allowed. Shawn and Swade have also been noted for explaining Tennessee whiskey and making useful adjustments when a group needed food before continuing.

Starting at The Green Light Bar

The meeting point is The Green Light Bar at 833 Hawkins Street. This gets the group away from the most crowded part of downtown before the tasting circuit begins. The tour ends at Big Machine Brewery & Distillery at 122 3rd Avenue South, placing you back in central Nashville.

The opening stop can be more than a simple gathering point. One account praised the bar’s hush puppies and barbecue chicken sandwich, but food is not presented as a guaranteed inclusion in the tour price. I would consider eating beforehand or checking the bar’s food options when you arrive, especially since the drinks begin early.

The starting point also gives you a chance to meet the guide and the rest of the group. Since the vehicle can carry no more than 13 people, the setting should feel more personal than a large coach excursion. You will still be sharing the ride with other drinkers, but the group size is small enough for questions and conversation.

Nelson’s Green Brier and the changing route

Nelson’s Green Brier Distillery, in Marathon Village, is listed as one of the possible stops. It is one of the more appealing places on the route for anyone interested in Tennessee whiskey, particularly because the stop can include an explanation of the company’s past and whiskey-making process.

The visit may also offer more than a quick tasting. One account describes a tour of the distillery and a strong presentation about the company, while another mentions self-serving whiskey from a barrel and custom dipping a bottle. Those activities may not be part of every departure, so treat them as possible extras rather than promises.

Here is the important catch: the operator says locations can change, and one departure did not include Nelson’s Green Brier at all. Instead, the group visited Nashville Barrel Company along with other venues. That makes the trip best for people who want a flexible introduction to Nashville’s drink scene, not for anyone buying a ticket solely to see one particular distillery.

Nashville Barrel Company and the whiskey focus

Nashville Barrel Company is another possible whiskey stop and is described as an excellent bourbon and whiskey experience. A visit here may focus on tasting and bottling rather than a full look at a large-scale production facility.

That distinction matters. Nashville Barrel Company works with whiskey selected and bottled from various sources, so it may not offer the same factory-style tour you would find at a major distillery outside the city. You can still learn about bourbon and barrel-aged whiskey, but the depth of the presentation can depend on the staff member leading the tasting.

The tasting experience has not been equally smooth for everyone. One account praised the guide, Jack, but found the service at Nashville Barrel Company less welcoming. I would keep that in mind if personal service is a major part of your enjoyment. The tour company does not operate every partner venue, so the quality of the welcome can vary from stop to stop.

Still, this stop can be useful if you want to sample different whiskey styles in one place. The tour’s transportation and group arrival may also help you avoid figuring out the route on your own.

New Heights Brewing Company and the beer break

New Heights Brewing Company is described as a Nashville staple and usually provides a change of pace after the whiskey-focused stops. The visit lasts about 30 minutes, enough time for several beer samples without turning the afternoon into a long brewery session.

This is where the tour’s variety pays off. After bourbon, moonshine, or vodka, craft beer gives your palate something different. Several stops can include multiple beer samples, and some departures finish with beer overlooking the baseball stadium. That setting can add a pleasant Nashville feel, though the exact brewery and view depend on the route.

Fat Bottom Brewing Company is another possible stop. It has been praised for tasty beer and for giving the group more insight into the brewing process. Pennington Distilling Company, Southern Collective, and other local venues may also appear, depending on the day’s plan.

Do not expect a detailed production tour at every brewery. One person felt the trip was mainly transportation between tasting rooms, with less explanation of how bourbon is made than expected. If your priority is production equipment, fermentation, and barrel storage, ask before booking or choose a dedicated distillery tour instead.

Big Machine gives the finale a downtown setting

The listed endpoint is Big Machine Brewery & Distillery on 3rd Avenue South. This venue can provide a lively finish, with a good atmosphere and, on some visits, live music. One departure found the setting especially enjoyable, though the drinks there were cocktails rather than straight whiskey or beer.

That difference is worth noting. Big Machine may be more about the Nashville bar experience than a technical lesson in spirit production. You can enjoy the setting, have a final drink, and remain close to downtown attractions after the tour ends.

Because the stop can vary, Big Machine may not be part of every route. Even so, knowing that the tour can finish downtown is useful when planning the rest of your evening. You will not need to arrange a ride back from an outlying venue.

What the guides add to the afternoon

The strongest part of this experience is often the person driving the vehicle. Jack has been praised for being both friendly and well informed, and he has shared facts about Nashville, hot chicken, and IPAs along the way. Jimmy has received similar praise for local recommendations and for making small groups feel comfortable.

Joe has also been described as personable and flexible. On one departure, he added Southern Collective as an extra stop because the group was ahead of schedule. Swade adjusted the plan when people realized they needed food to absorb the whiskey, while Shawn was praised for explaining the drinks without making the afternoon feel like a lecture.

Those details tell you what to expect from a good departure: a guide who explains where you are going, fills the drive with local information, and keeps an eye on the group’s comfort. Still, the quality of the experience can depend on the individual guide and on the staff at each partner venue.

I would ask questions as you go. If you want to understand how bourbon differs from Tennessee whiskey, how barrel aging affects flavor, or how beer production compares with spirits, say so. The guides appear willing to share information, but this is not a formal academic tour with a fixed lesson at every stop.

Is $114.99 a fair price?

At $114.99 per person, the tour is not the cheapest way to buy drinks in Nashville. You are paying for the tastings, the driver, private transportation, route planning, and the convenience of visiting several places in a short period.

The value improves if you would otherwise need several rideshares. Distilleries and breweries are not all clustered together, and three hours is a short window for arranging multiple visits on your own. The group may also move through busy venues more easily than a pair of independent visitors, with some departures receiving quick access at the tasting rooms.

The price is harder to justify if you only want one specific distillery. A self-guided visit to a nearby tasting room may cost less and give you more time at that one venue. You also need to accept that the final route can change and that not every stop will offer a full production tour.

For a first afternoon in Nashville, I think the price can make sense. You get a sampler of the city’s whiskey, moonshine, vodka, beer, and cocktail culture without doing the research yourself. The experience becomes less valuable if you dislike group tours or prefer to spend an hour or two studying one distillery in detail.

How much will you drink?

Plan for a substantial amount of alcohol. The tour provides nine to 12 samples, and the stops may include whiskey, bourbon, moonshine, vodka, cocktails, and beer. This is not a token tasting with one tiny sip at each venue.

Eat before you go, or plan to get food during the outing. One guide adjusted the schedule when the group needed something to eat, and The Green Light Bar may have food available, but a meal is not listed as part of the package. Do not rely on food being included.

You must be at least 21 years old, and every person needs a valid photo ID. Bring the physical ID with you. The rules state that anyone without valid photo identification can be turned away from the drinks.

Since you are sampling spirits and beer in a short period, this tour is best approached slowly. You do not need to finish every sample simply because it is poured, and you should speak up if you need a break. The driver handles transportation, so you will not be driving between venues.

Who will enjoy this Nashville experience?

I would recommend this tour to you if you want an easy introduction to Nashville’s local drink scene. It suits couples, friends, and small family groups with adult children who want several tasting styles in one afternoon.

It is also a good fit if you do not know which distilleries or breweries to choose. The guide can point out places you might not have found on your own, and the ride removes the need to organize a route across the city.

You may want another kind of outing if you are looking for a strict educational tour. The experience can include useful lessons about whiskey, beer, company history, and production, but some departures feel more like a tasting shuttle with commentary. The exact venues and the amount of instruction are not fixed.

I would also think twice if you do not drink much alcohol. Nine to 12 samples is a lot for a three-hour outing, even if the pours are small. The format is built around tasting, not sightseeing with an occasional drink.

Booking, timing, and cancellation details

The tour lasts about three hours and is offered in English with a mobile ticket. It requires at least five people to operate. If fewer than five are booked, you may be offered another date or a full refund.

Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Cancellations or changes made inside that 24-hour window are not refunded or accepted. The tour is near public transportation, service animals are allowed, and most people can participate.

The route can include at least three venues, but the stops may change. Keep your plans after the tour flexible enough to allow for the listed duration, especially if you want to remain at the final downtown venue.

Should you book the distillery and brewery bus tour?

Book it if you want variety, transportation, and a friendly guide more than a fixed distillery lesson. The best departures combine several drink styles with local stories, small-group conversation, and stops you may not have chosen yourself. Guides such as Jack, Jimmy, Joe, Shawn, and Swade can make the ride feel like a useful introduction to Nashville.

Skip it if Nelson’s Green Brier, Nashville Barrel Company, or any other one venue is your main reason for going. The route changes, and the day may include more tasting-room time than production detail. At $114.99, it is most worthwhile for people who value convenience and a broad sampling of Nashville’s drinks.

FAQ

How long does the tour last?

The tour lasts approximately three hours.

How many tastings are included?

You receive between nine and 12 alcoholic drink samples during the experience.

How many venues will the tour visit?

The tour always visits at least three places, but the exact distilleries and breweries can change.

Is Nelson’s Green Brier Distillery guaranteed?

No. It is listed as a possible stop, but locations are subject to change.

What is the maximum group size?

The tour has a maximum of 13 travelers.

What is the minimum number needed for the tour to operate?

At least five people must be scheduled for the tour to run.

What identification do I need?

You must be at least 21 years old and carry a valid photo ID. Anyone without valid photo ID may be turned away from the tastings.

Can I cancel for a full refund?

Yes. You can cancel at least 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Cancellations made less than 24 hours before the experience are not refunded.